“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17) KJV

LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS: The Bridegroom and the Bride

“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” (Mat. 25:6)

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17)

“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” (Gen. 5:24)

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Heb. 11:5)

The Bible says that God has chosen you. It says that before you were even conceived in your mother’s womb, He knew you and He loved you.

God has also called you. He has called you to walk with Him, to be His bride, and to follow in His steps.

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” (1Peter 2:21)

However, the Bible says:

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)

We cannot walk with God if we are not in agreement with God. We come into agreement with God when we know His Word and we submit our lives unto it.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

If we are to walk with God, our attitude has to be, “If God said it, then I believe it. If it comes from Jesus, then I receive it. If God tells me or asks me, then I will do it.”

Anything less and it dishonors the Bridegroom.

In the Old Testament, when a man chose his bride he gave gifts unto her as a token of his love and commitment. The gifts were also a sign that He would return for her. We do the same thing today with the giving of an engagement ring.

Jesus also honored this tradition in the New Testament.

“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” (Eph. 4:8)

Whether they are salvation and forgiveness, His Spirit, His word, or His grace; whether they are the abilities to preach, teach, give, govern, or help; whether they are spiritual gifts or spiritual fruit; they are all given by God and they are for His honor.

We honor Him by accepting them, cherishing them, and adorning our life with them.

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Rev. 21:2)

When Jesus returns as a Bridegroom for His Bride, will He find us walking in agreement with Him?

Will He find that we have accepted everything that He gave His life for?

Will He see that not only have we received every gift that He purchased with His own blood, but that we have adorned our life with them for all the world to see?

Will He find us following in His steps, doing His works, and obeying His Word?

If He does, then we will be as a “bride adorned for her husband.” We will be His bride “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” and He will catch us away to the “marriage supper of the Lamb.”

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” (Rev. 19:7)

“And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (Rev 19:8)

“And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” (Rev. 19:9)

Until He returns and we are called, we can be assured that He will walk with us and preserve us in these last days, so that we too will hear those wonderful words,

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.”

The choice is ours to make.

Next- LIVING WITH PEACE

All twelve books in the “How to Walk Christian Series” by Raymond Candy are available now in one collection of two volumes for $6.99 each at bn.com for the NOOK, amazon.com for the KINDLE, on iTunes at the iBookstore for the iPad and iPhone, and at Lulu.com for the PC and all e-reading devices